QPR’s pre-season tour of Austria, in the absence of manager Harry Redknapp, ended with a narrow defeat to Italian club Udinese.

A sober first-half was trumped by an engaging second period that was punctuated by goals from Serie A stars Dusan Basta and Edinaldo before Rangers substitute Frankie Sutherland pulled one back for his boyhood club.

Udinese started brightest, much to the delight of their cotchel of dedicated fans who danced topless in the scorching sun amid the fog of their red flares.

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Redknapp’s men, in Austria without their manager as he recuperates from knee surgery, went close first. Junior Hoilett slippled the ball into Jermain Jenas’ curved run, gifting him a sight of goal but he ran the ball out of play, unaware of the promising position he had got himself in to.

With three minutes of the opening half remaining the Championship side had their best chance. Ji-Sung Park played the ball in to Bobby Zamora who pinned his marker and teed up the South Korean with a return pass. The midfielder’s left-foot shot stung the palms of Ivan Kelava in the Udinese goal but was not followed up.

Rangers made two substitutions at the interval and the change in line-up must have ruptured their concentration, as within moments they were a goal down. Basta took aim with a rasping right-foot drive across Robert Green and in to the top-right corner of his goal.

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Set for second tier? Ex-Champions League players Ji Sung-Park (left) and Esteban Granero are still at the club

On 58 minutes deficit was doubled; a whipped free-kick from Maicosuel, who moments earlier had hit the post with a shot of his own, was nodded in by Edinaldo.

Rangers looked on the cusp of crumbling but instead they pulled a goal back with 20 minutes remaining when 19-year-old Sutherland rifled in a low drive.

Stephane Mbia should have levelled things late on when an Esteban Granero free-kick met his head at the back-post but somehow the French midfielder headed over.

Rangers will fly home for a friendly with Southend next Friday, that could feature striker Loic Remy, who travelled with the team to Austria but failed to play due to a calf injury.

Redknapp, desperate to be in the dugout for the crucial start of the Championship campaign against Sheffield Wednesday on August 3rd, could also make his return at Roots Hall.